The Disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi: Part 2

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After three long weeks of investigation, the world has still not found an answer to Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Although Saudi Arabia continues to deny any association with his absence, it has contradicted their innocence in various ways. For instance, when the incident first began, Saudi Arabia claimed it had no connection to Khashoggi’s disappearance. However, as the country received immense backlash from foreign nations who wanted to know the truth about the missing journalist, Saudi Arabia realized that it needed to release some information about what happened.

They then came out with a statement claiming that Khashoggi left the consulate 20 minutes after arriving. What makes this claim so unbelievable is that the security cameras located all around the lot did not catch Khashoggi walking out of the building. It turns out that the Saudis hired a body double to leave the consulate dressed in Khashoggi’s clothing. This way, they figured, people would assume that Khashoggi came out safely and alive. The next day, Saudi officials asserted that Khashoggi was involved in a fight at the consulate but died due to natural causes. This allegation was later revised, revealing that there was a team of diplomats who urged Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia. As Khashoggi hesitated, he asked if he was going to be kidnapped and the team assured him that he would be taken to a safe house. Khashoggi began crying out for help, when an unidentified member put him in a headlock with the intent of keeping him quiet. Supposedly, this move is what killed Khashoggi. However, it seems like this was just another one of the country’s cover-ups.

By using the team of diplomats as scapegoats, Saudi officials are trying to convince the press that whatever occurred was unintentional and not their fault. According to a series of sources, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, has ordered that the killers of Jamal Khashoggi be executed. “The incident that happened is very painful, for all Saudis… The incident is not justifiable. Justice, in the end, will appear.” claimed Salman. What a hypocritical statement for someone who played the biggest role in Khashoggi’s murder. Isn’t it strange that the man who sent the diplomats, each with a different task, to the Turkish consulate on the same day as Khashoggi is suddenly pointing fingers at his own men?

Since the prince is the only one who can get away with secrecy in Saudi Arabia, it is obvious that Salman is responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The reason for this is that he wanted revenge on the journalist for constantly bashing the country’s system of government, decisions, and trade deals with the United States. Therefore, he devised a plan to kill Khashoggi by hiring his men to do the “dirty work”. (One of his diplomats walked into the consulate carrying a bone saw and was never checked by security because diplomats do not need to be checked). By the time the world started asking questions, Prince Mohammed was already hiding behind his strongest government officials, who have been spreading new rumors since the beginning of the case.

Ever since the incident took place in Istanbul, Turkey has led an incessant campaign to make sure Saudi Arabia is held accountable for its crime. On Tuesday, October 23, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, gave a speech in which he criticized Saudi Arabia for killing one of its own people and denying that it had any part in doing so. “Covering up this kind of savagery will hurt the conscience of all humanity,” said Erdoğan. By revealing its allegations and threats to the press, Turkey is pressuring Saudi officials into telling the truth. Turkish authorities have also leaked information regarding Khashoggi’s murder to the international press, indicating that the journalist’s body parts were found in the Garden of Riyadh’s consul general’s home in Istanbul. The overall idea that the Saudi government is failing to understand is that Turkey can expose Saudi Arabia at any time if it chooses to ignore the problem. However, the country is currently giving Saudi officials a chance to admit the nation’s faults.

It’s time to stop pointing fingers and shifting the blame away. Saudi Arabia and Mohammed Bin Salman must take responsibility for their actions and provide Jamal Khashoggi the justice he deserves!